Hot Spots: Jimenez didn’t live up to the hype last season, failing to pitch like an ace after the Indians dealt four prospects to Colorado for him at the trading deadline. The 28-year-old must bounce back for Cleveland to have any chance of competing for a playoff spot. The soft-spoken Jimenez has not had a good spring, but he insists he’s healthy after beginning last season with two injuries and happy to be in Cleveland. He may be the most important piece of the Indians’ puzzle. Choo, too, must rebound from injuries and perform the way he did in 2011, when he was one of the AL’s top outfielders. Choo has turned down several long-term contract offers. He can be a free agent after this season.

Outlook: A shocking start in 2011 was followed by an equally unexpected collapse. The Indians were a feel-good story for most of the season. They were still within 5 1/2 games of first on Aug. 1 when it all came crashing down, mostly because of injuries. The club used the disabled list 22 times and only had Hafner, Choo, Cabrera and Grady Sizemore — Cleveland’s four most established hitters — in the same lineup for 17 games. Acta has his players believing they can not only contend again this season, but run down Detroit and win the AL Central. To do that, they’ll have to stay healthy and youngsters like Brantley (filling in for the oft-injured Sizemore), Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall have to take it up a notch. Of the teams who could benefit most from the expanded playoff format, the Indians are near the top of the list.